Can anyone give me some advice which type of regulations are breached by my employer, when he allows the cleaning personnel to use bleach to clean cups and the inside of the microwave? I am aware that bleach is classified as a corrosive substance in the COSHH regulations, however I am not working with the substance, it is only used in my work place. I have adressed this issue to the office manager twice, he in turn has spoken to the cleaners, as have I; to no avail.
So I guess so me kind of legal procedure would be appropriate at this stage, like an inspection or something like that. Any useful advice on what the next step should be? ( I should add that my college is suffering from digestive problems and she suspects the b leach in the microwave might be the cause. thanks a lot
2007-10-31 03:19:05 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I have worked in the food industry before and there are special approved sanitizers TO USE ON SURFACES, but even those should not be used on surfaces which come directly into CONTACT with FOOD. Bleach is toxic and should not be used on surfaces which come into direct contact with food. If I did at my previous job, I would have been sacked instantly.
2007-10-31 03:30:24 · update #1
All of you who claim that this is a recommended substance for sanitizing, could please give details of where is it recommended so I can show it to my colleagues?
2007-10-31 03:34:08 · update #2
The washing of the cups by myself works, but i doesn't stop the fumes getting into your face when you open the microwave, the air quality in the office is very low because of the bleach used in office hours ( i know this is my right to have good quality air) to clean everything.
I have purchased other cleaning product, but the cleaners claim that they don't work (like washing up liquid on cups doesn't work, yeah?) anyway could everyone please limit themselves to the knowledge they might have about the legal situation, and not pointless personal speculations. I am not interested in being told to put my cup away (I can think for myself). Only serious points please.
2007-10-31 03:40:39 · update #3
I am reffering to Sodium hypochlorite please read the description on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
I am aware that chlorine is added to tap water in minor quantities to kill the bugs in it, but it is in low concentration, much lower than anything that comes inder the name of bleach. Think: how would it kill bacteria if it wasn't toxic??!
2007-10-31 03:52:49 · update #4
anyway if it was used in small quantities, I wouldn't be here! they use the same bleach that comes in the pack with a toilet picture on it! It is meant to disinfect toilets and not wash cups! to remove a stain is something different, it should be fine. But would you wash your cups and pots at home each time after a snack in the same bleach that you use to clean the loo?
2007-10-31 03:56:33 · update #5
if you work in a food establishment then bleach should not be used, you should be using a sanitizer. bleach should certainly not be used to clean a microwave.
apart from anything else, bleach doesn't actually clean as such, it does what it says on the bottle, it bleaches ( whitens ) the stains, the stains will still be there, just white. bleach shouldn't be used for cleaning utensils or crockery because of the risk of tainting the food.
the eho would take a dim view of this. if your manager is tight with the money then tell him to use a bowl of water with lemon juice to clean the microwave, as for the cups, a decent sanitizer or just plain elbow grease will clean them
2007-10-31 03:26:28 · answer #1 · answered by sirdunny 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bleach in a solution such as 1/4 cup to a gallon of water is often used as a disinfectant. There should not be any residue in either your cups or the microwave once they have been cleaned, disinfected and rinsed. The use of bleach is not a violation of health and safety codes when it is used properly. Bleach is, in fact, a recommended disinfecting substance.
2007-10-31 03:29:05 · answer #2 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Solution - wash your own mugs and avoid the microwave (which is probably about as dangerous as bleach anyway), pretty simple
PS If your objecting so much to the answers on here and seem to have such a strong arguement as to why you are convinced that bleach is illegal, why don't you just go to the Health and Safety Executive and let them set you straight.
2007-10-31 03:32:01 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bleach is an acceptable sanitzer when mixed with water. If the cups are rinsed after submersion in water then there is no issue, and as for the microwave same thing (use the bleach, then wipe with clean water).
2007-10-31 03:26:58 · answer #4 · answered by Susie D 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is not a legal issue by any stretch of the imagination. Cleaning cups with bleach is fine, so long as the cup is rinsed out properly, and there is nothing illegal going on here.
2007-10-31 03:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ive worked in a kitchen and the use of bleach is fine as long as everything is throughly rinsed afterwards. 'Probs with the microwave r highly unlikely 'cos food shouldnt be coming into contact with surfaces anyway
2007-10-31 03:23:02 · answer #6 · answered by Pretty in punk chick 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It works on stained cups but all surfaces upon which food is going to be placed must must be washed and cleaned with fesh water afterwards I mean washed not wiped
2007-10-31 03:43:59 · answer #7 · answered by Scouse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply purchase the appropriate cleaners and leave them in the kitchen for the cleaners with instructions to use them. The cleaners may not have anything else to use and have to clean the area to keep their job. Your boss should be willing to reimburse or gather funds from coworkers.
2007-10-31 03:33:28 · answer #8 · answered by Harbinger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bleach is a great sanitizer when mixed with watter. There is no guidlines to say you may not use bleach on food surfaces. It is perfectly legal and fine to do so.
2007-10-31 03:23:44 · answer #9 · answered by bildymooner 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To your comment that bleach is toxic, may I point out that in the Caribbean after hurricanes we are directed to add small amounts of bleach to our drinking water in order to avoid infection? It tastes vile, but it is preferable to non treated water. In small quantitities it cannot be described as poisonous.
It is useful for removing stains in cups, although bicarbonate of soda is better, as it leaves no aftertaste.
As far as the regulations in relation to the use of bleach are concerned, perhaps this link will help. http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:Jl7c-iDEnyEJ:www.leicester.gov.uk/EasySite/lib/serveDocument.asp%3Fdoc%3D28803%26pgid%3D2690+england+bleach+health+and+safety&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
2007-10-31 03:44:58 · answer #10 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋